Meet the 2014 Tribeca Filmmakers #11: Jordan Rubin Introduces a New Monster to the B-Movie Horror Genre in 'Zombeavers'

The vicious sharks in “Sharknado” may want to move aside for the next ungodly creatures in the horror genre. Writer/director Jordan Rubin now brings a group of sexually-driven youths to a cabin in the woods where they will face not a serial killer, but a group of zombie beavers in his feature film “Zombeavers.”

Tell us about yourself. I have such low self-esteem that I’m not the main character in my diary. I started my career in standup comedy. Then I began writing for TV and eventually started working on movie scripts. I’m excited to be premiering my film at Tribeca, which is in my home town. Oh, and I want my dying words to be “Annnd scene.”

What was your biggest challenge in completing this project? Convincing people to allow me to direct a movie without a reel.

What do you have in the works? I’m finishing a new script with Jon and Al Kaplan, the two brothers that I wrote this film with.

Did you crowdfund? If so, via which platform? And if not, why? I did not crowdfund because I sent the script to a producer (Evan Astrowsky, who produced the original “Cabin Fever”) and we decided to try and get it financed first. My goal had always been to make this script, no matter what. Even if it meant scaling back on a bunch of the set pieces and special effects. But we took the script around Hollywood and I brought along some extra visual materials that I had put together to help pitch it. And after a long list of rejections, the producers at BenderSpink/Armory were the first people to say yes. So we never had to crowdfund, but I love the idea and I think it’s a great way for filmmakers to finance films when starting out. Even if you don’t raise your intended goal, it forces you to get organized and consolidate all of the contacts and pitching materials that you will need to get that movie or another movie green-lit in the future. Also it forces you to hustle, and you’re gonna need to know how to hustle if you want to make movies.

What camera did you shoot on? Arri Alexa. Plus a few shots on a GoPro and one shot on a point-and-shoot Leica.

Did you go to film school? If so, which one? I did not go to film school, no. I went to NYU, though. And I smoked so much weed in my dorm room while watching Kubrick movies that I feel like I have an honorary film school degree. Come to think of it, I was so high during college that I may have gone to Tisch. The jury’s still out.

Indiewire invited Tribeca Film Festival directors to tell us about
their films, including what inspired them, the challenges they faced and
what they’re doing next. We’ll be publishing their responses leading up
to the 2014 festival. Go HERE to read all the entries.